The Learning Curve/The Learning Curve (Weird Science, 1996).iso/religion/impact/impact-220a.txt

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 No. 220        "Vital Articles on Science/Creation"         October 1991
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 Columbus and His Creator
 by Paul G. Humber *

 Copyright (c) 1991 by I.C.R.
 All Rights Reserved

 * Mr. Humbar, A.B., M.S., B.D., is a schoolmaster at The Haverford
 School, Haverford, Pennsylvania.
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 Some years ago, the _Philadelphia Daily News_ published a cartoon
 characterizing Christians who hold to the fundamentals of the Bible as
 out of touch with reality.  As an educator, I found it particularly
 offensive.  Sammy, standing on the Bible in a classroom with his back to
 the others, was looking at a flat "globe" of the earth.  The other
 students and teacher, with quizzical looks on their faces, encompassed a
 normal (i.e. round) globe.  The teacher, presumably responding to a
 student's question, is depicted as saying, "Because Sammy's mom is a
 fundamentalist, that's why."[1]  The intent seems to be to ridicule
 Bible-believing Christians and their view of science.  Apparently
 neither the cartoonist nor the editors realized that Christopher
 Columbus, a round-earth activist of the highest degree, was driven far
 more by the Bible than by the science of his day.  A dedicated student
 of the Scriptures, he put his faith into action.

 COLUMBUS' OWN WORDS:

 At last, after almost 500 years, _Libro de las profecias_ (Book of
 Prophecies), written and compiled by Columbus, may be seriously
 considered in English!  In her _Christopher Columbus -- His life and
 discovery in the light of his prophecies_,[2] Kay Brigham has provided
 translations of major portions and analysis of his book.  She describes
 it as "a compilation of passages from the Bible which the Admiral
 believed were pertinent to his mission of discovery, selected by
 Columbus himself with the help of his friend, Fray Gaspar de
 Gorricio."[2]  Excerpting from folios 4-6 (using her book as source), I
 quote Columbus, who in turn was addressing his Spanish sovereigns:

 "At this time I have seen and put in study to look into all the
 Scriptures, cosmography, histories, chronicles and philosophy and
 other arts, which our Lord opened to my understanding (I could
 sense His hand upon me), so that it became clear to me that it
 was feasible to navigate from here to the Indies; and He unlocked
 within me the determination to execute the idea.  And I came to
 your Highnesses with this ardor.  All those who heard about my
 enterprise rejected it with laughter, scoffing at me.  Neither
 the sciences which I mentioned above, nor the authoritative
 citations from them, were of any avail.  In only your Highnesses
 remained faith and constancy.  Who doubts that this illumination
 was from the Holy Spirit?  I attest that He (the Spirit), with
 marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred
 Scriptures ... encouraging me to proceed, and, continually,
 without ceasing for a moment, they inflame me with a sense of
 great urgency....

 I am the worst of sinners.  The pity and mercy of our Lord have
 completely covered me whenever I have called (on Him) for them. I
 have found the sweetest consolation in casting away all my
 anxiety, so as to contemplate His marvelous presence.

 I have already said that for the execution of the enterprise of
 the Indies, neither reason, nor mathematics, nor world maps were
 profitable to me; rather the prophecy of Isaiah was completely
 fulfilled ....

 Your Highnesses, remember the Gospel texts and the many promises
 which our Savior made to us, and how all this has been put to a
 test: (for example) St. Peter, when he leapt into the sea, walked
 upon (the water) as long as his faith remained firm.  The
 mountains will obey anyone who has faith the size of a kernel of
 Indian corn.  All that is requested by anyone who has faith will
 be granted.  Knock and it will be opened to you.  No one should
 be afraid to take on any enterprise in the name of our Savior, if
 it is right and if the purpose is purely for His holy service
 .... The working out of all things was entrusted by our Lord to
 each person, (but it happens) in conformity with His sovereign
 will, even though he gives advice to many.  He lacks nothing that
 it may be in the power of men to give him.  O, how good is the
 Lord who wishes people to perform that for which he holds himself
 responsible!  Day and night, and at every moment, everyone should
 give Him their most devoted thanks."[2]

 Noted author, Simon Wiesenthal, in his _Sails of Hope_, confirmed
 earlier what is now clear from Columbus' own writings:

 "That religious elements played a great part in Columbus's
 thoughts and actions is evident from all his writings.  It may
 come as something of a surprise to us that his concept of sailing
 west to reach the Indies was less the result of geographical
 theories than of his faith in certain Biblical texts --
 specifically the Book of Isaiah."[3]

 COLUMBUS - A SCOUNDREL?

 William Loren Katz, though affirming Columbus' "enormous skills,
 courage and ambition," added that "Columbus carried in his heart the
 burning embers of hate" and repaid the "generosity" of the natives
 with "treachery."[4]  Others have similar concerns.

 Sadly, exploitation of peoples and lands followed in Columbus' wake,
 and Columbus himself contributed in part.  His own testimony of being
 "the worst of sinners" has already been mentioned, but he also viewed
 himself as "Servant ... of the Most High Saviour, Christ the Son of
 Mary."[5]  He trusted apparently in Creator Jesus who forgives the sins
 of repentant sinners.  Indeed, he named the very first island he landed
 on San Salvador out of regard for his "Holy Savior" (translation).

 The esteemed Harvard historian, Samuel Eliot Morison, who dedicated a
 copy of his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, _Admiral of the Ocean Sea_ to
 his "shipmate," Lieutenant Commander Millard J. Klein, Kay Brigham's
 father,[2] was more generous in his appraisal of Admiral Columbus.  He
 wrote, "I cannot forget the eternal faith that sent this man forth, to
 the benefit of all future ages."[6]  Columbus sought the conversion of
 the natives.  On the premise that people are lost without Christ, such a
 concern could be interpreted as an expression of genuine love rather
 than of hate.  He prayed on San Salvador:

 "O Lord Almighty and Everlasting God, by Thy holy Word Thou hast
 created the heaven, and the earth, and the sea; blessed and
 glorified be Thy Name, and praised be Thy Majesty, which hath
 deigned to use us, Thy humble servants, that Thy holy Name may be
 proclaimed in this second part of the earth."[7]

 According to Morison, Columbus and his family were different from
 many of the others who wanted "to get gold quick and go home."  Only
 Columbus, "his family and a few faithful, humble souls" cared for
 establishing a 'permanent settlement" and the transfer of Christianity
 to the Indies.[6]

 Morison was not unaware of some of Columbus' shortcomings, but he
 also wrote of his "humanity:"

 It was to Columbus' credit that humanity prevailed over glory.
 It must have been a temptation to parade this brilliant savage
 royalty with their gold and feather ornaments at court.  But he
 thought of the cold weather in which they would suffer and die,
 of what the pretty daughters might expect from his seamen, of the
 disillusion that would await these innocent souls in Castile.  So
 he took compassion on them, declined the cacique's request, and
 sent the Indians ashore in the ship's boat after receiving their
 homage and fealty.[6]

 Kay Brigham's assessment of Columbus is very positive: "On account of
 faith -- "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
 see" (Hebrews 11:1) -- Columbus discovered America, the most significant
 event for the human race after the birth, death, and resurrection of the
 Savior of the world.  Faith liberated Columbus from the chains of human
 myopia, launching him on a divine mission and propelling him to a
 providential destination ... initiating the histories of the United
 States, Canada, and the numerous American Republics and the phenomenal
 expansion of the Christian faith."[2]

 WHAT BIBLE PASSAGES AFFECTED COLUMBUS?

 Scriptural passages cited by Columbus in his book, _Libro de las
 profecias_ (Book of Prophecies)[2] include the following:

 The LORD reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of
 isles be glad thereof (Psalm 97:1).

 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise from the ends of
 the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein;
 the isles, and the inhabitants thereof (Isaiah 42:10).

 Listen, O isles, unto Me; and hearken, ye people from far
 (Isaiah 49:1).

 My righteousness is near; My salvation is gone forth .... The
 isles shall wait upon Me, and on Mine arm shall they trust
 (Isaiah 51:5).

 I am sought of them that asked not for Me; I am found of them
 that sought Me not; I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation
 that was not called by My name (Isaiah 65:1).

 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
 name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching
 them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And,
 lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew
 28:19,20).

 But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
 you; and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
 all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
 earth (Acts 1:8).

 CONCLUSION:

 "Columbus always loved to apply the Sacred Scriptures to his own life
 and adventures,"[6] according to Morison.  Wilbur E. Garret, _National
 Geographic_ Editor, shares that this was also true at his death: "Son
 Ferdinand reports that Columbus repeated the words attributed to Christ
 on the Cross -- 'Into your hands, Father, I commend my soul' - and
 died."[8]


 REFERENCES

 1.  _Philadelphia Daily News_, October 28, 1986, p. 33.

 2.  Brigham, Kay. _Christopher Columbus - His life and discovery in the
 light of his prophecies_. Terrassa, Barcelona: CLIE Publishers,
 1990, pp. 53, 61, 82, 85, 86, 115, 124, 125, 127, 129, 131, 167.

 3.  Wiesenthal, Simon. _Sails of Hope_.  New York: Macmillan Publishing
 Co., Inc., 1973, p. 122.

 4.  Katz, William Loren. "'Ill Winds' Drove Columbus," _The New York
 Times_, October 8, 1979.

 5.  Morison, Samuel Eliot. "Christopher Columbus, Mariner," _American
 Heritage_, December 1955, p. 93.

 6.  Morison, Samuel Eliot. _Admiral of the Ocean Sea_. Boston: Little,
 Brown and Co., 1942, pp. 6, 206, 476, 494.

 7.  Marshall, Jr., Peter J. and David B. Manuel, Jr. _The Light and the
 Glory_.  Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1977, p. 41.

 8.  Garrett, Wilbur E.  "Columbus and the New World," _National
 Geographic_, November 1986, p. 564.
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